Anagallis Arvensis – In Homoeopathy For Palmer Psoriasis: A Case Study
Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder characterized by erythematous, scaly plaques with a relapsing and remitting nature. The disease affects physical, mental, and social well-being due to its chronicity and cosmetic impact. The review discusses definition, types, etiological factors, risk factors, clinical features, investigations, differential diagnosis, and comprehensive homoeopathic management. Homoeopathy treats psoriasis constitutionally by addressing individual susceptibility, miasmatic background, and mental–physical generals. The article highlights commonly indicated remedies, intercurrent medicines, general management, and concludes with the holistic and long-term benefits of homoeopathic care.
Keywords
Psoriasis, Autoimmune skin disease, Homoeopathy, Constitutional remedy, miasmatic treatment, Chronic inflammatory disorders.
Introduction
The word “Psoriasis” comes from the Greek term “psora”, meaning itch, scurf, or rash.
Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disease characterized by well demarcated erythematous plaques with silvery-white scales, resulting from hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and dysregulated T-cell–mediated immunity.
It affects about 0.44% to 2.8% of the population and is seen most often in people in their 30s or 40s. Men are affected almost twice as often as women. Psoriasis significantly impairs the quality of life of patients and their families resulting in physical, emotional and social stress.
Types of Psoriasis
1. Plaque Psoriasis (Psoriasis vulgaris) – Most common; thick red plaques with silvery scales
2. Guttate Psoriasis – Small, drop-like lesions
3. Inverse (Flexural) Psoriasis – Smooth red lesions in folds
4. Pustular Psoriasis – Pustules on palms/soles
5. Erythrodermic Psoriasis – Widespread redness; severe form
6. Nail Psoriasis – Pitting, onycholysis
7. Psoriatic Arthritis – Joint pain with skin lesions 8. Palmoplantar Psoriasis – Thick scaling on palms/soles
Etiology
• Psoriasis is multifactorial
• Genetic predisposition – HLA-Cw6 strongly associated • Autoimmune dysfunction – T-cell hyperactivity • Environmental triggers
• Epidermal hyperproliferation
Risk Factors
➢ Family history
➢ Stress and emotional trauma
➢ Infections (streptococcal, viral)
➢ Cold climate
➢ Skin injuries (Koebner phenomenon)
➢ Drugs: β-blockers, lithium, antimalarials
➢ Endocrine imbalance
➢ Immune suppression
Mode of Transmission
• Not contagious.
• No direct person-to-person spread
• Transmission occurs genetically, not infectiously • Multifactorial inheritance pattern
Clinical Features
• Erythematous plaques with silvery-white scales • Itching or burning
• Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
• Nail changes – pitting, ridges
• Scalp scaling and dandruff-like flakes
• Joint pain in psoriatic arthritis
• Chronic course with remissions and exacerbations
Differential Diagnosis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Lichen planus
• Eczema / Dermatitis
• Tinea corporis
• Pityriasis rosea
• Secondary syphilis
• Vitiligo (in early stages)
• Lupus erythematosus
Investigations
• Clinical examination (primary diagnostic tool)
• ESR/CRP – inflammatory markers
• Rheumatoid factor (if arthritis suspected)
• ANA (to rule out autoimmune disorders)
• Skin biopsy (confirmatory when diagnosis uncertain)
• KOH test – to rule out fungal infection
• X-ray for psoriatic arthritis
Homoeopathic Treatment
Homoeopathy treats psoriasis constitutionally, focusing on miasms, physical generals, mental traits, modalities, and personal triggers.
Commonly Indicated Remedies are:
1. Arsenicum Album
- Itching, burning, swellings, eruptions, papular dry, rough, scaly o Worse cold and scratching
- Psoriasis, scirrhus
- Like parchment, white and pasty
2. Sulphur
- dry, scaly, unhealthy, freckles
- itching, burning, worse scratching and washing
- skin affections after local medication
- “feels good to scratch”; scratching causes burning
3. Graphites
- Rough, hard, persistent , dryness of portions of skin unaffected by eczema,
- Eruptions, ozzing out a sticky exudations
- Cracks or fissures in ends of fingers, nipples
- Unhealthy skin, eruption upon the ears, between fingers and toes
4. Petroleum
- Skin dry, constricted, very sensitive, rough and cracked
- Slightest scratch makes skin suppurate
- Psoriasis of hand, thick, greenish crusts, burning and itching , redness raw, crack bleed easily
- Rhagades worse in winter
- Herpes: of genital organs extending to perineum and thighs
5. Calcarea Carbonica
- Skin unhealthy, readily ulcerating, flacid
- Nettle rash, better in cold air,
- Warts on face and hands
- Petechial eruption
6. Thuja Occidentalis
- Warts epithelioma
- Perspiration sweetish and strong,
- Eruptions only on covered parts, worse after scratching
- Very sensitive to touch
- Brown – white spots here and there (hands and arms)
7. Kali Arsenicum
- Intolerable itching, worse undressing, worse from warmth, walking, change of weather
- Dry scaly wilted
- Chronic eczema, Psoriasis
- Fissures in bends of arms and knees
- Skin cancer, where suddenly an alarming malignancy without any external signs sets in
8. Mezereum
- Eczema, intolerable itching, chilliness with pruritus, worse in bed
- Eruptions ulcerate, and form thick scabs under which purulent matter exudes.
Miasmatic Approach
Psora: dry, itchy lesions
Sycosis: thick, overgrown skin
Syphilis: fissures, cracks, bleeding
Intercurrent Remedies
Used to clear deep miasmatic blocks:
• Psorinum – filthy, dirty skin, offensive odor
• Sulphur – when well-selected remedies fail
• Tuberculinum – frequent relapses, restlessness
• Medorrhinum – sycotic background
• Syphilinum – fissures, destructive tendency
General Management
- Lifestyle & Care
- Avoid triggers (cold exposure, harsh detergents)
- Moisturize skin regularly
- Use mild soap
- Adequate hydration
- Balanced diet; avoid junk food
- Reduce stress – yoga, meditation
- Sunlight exposure (early morning)
- Encourage follow-up
PSORIASIS – SINGLE MEDICINE RUBRIC: SYNTHESIS REPERTORY
| HEAD – ERUPTION- Psoriasis; Occiput | staphisagria |
| FACE – ERUPTION- Psoriasis: eyebrows of | PHOSPHURUS |
| EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION- Second finger, Psoriasis | Anagellis |
| EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION- forearms Psoriasis | Rhus tox |
| EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION- hands palms – Psoriasis-> itching & burning | petroleum |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis-accompanied by- diabetes mellitus | manganum aceticum |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis-accompanied by-bones; pain in | Phytolacca decandra |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis-accompanied by-head; pain in | iris versicolor |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis desquamating | arsenicum album |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis desquamating | Mancinella |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis- grief or suppressed emotions; after | STAPHISAGRIA |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis- itching; without | cuprum aceticum |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis- purplish | phytolacca decandra |
| SKIN – ERUPTION- Psoriasis- swollen persons | Scarlatinum |
A CASE REPORT:
A 23-year- old female patient visited the clinic with the complaint of dry, rough, reddish silvery plaques on the right hand’s 2nd finger since 2015. Along with this, she also feels numbness on the forehead.
This complaint occurs only on the 2nd finger and nowhere else on the body. She has taken many antifungal ointments and medicines, but the complaint keeps recurring.
Presenting complain she has increased itching, burning and after scratching is slightly bleeding and burning, itching worse in summer and hot / warm water.
She is very active and cheerful. Sometimes when her boss says something she worries thinking, maybe my work is not done properly. Otherwise, she is very friendly and mixes well with everyone. She likes travelling a lot.
LOCATION: 1. Right hand – palm – 2nd finger
2. Head – forehead
SENSATION: 1. Dryness, roughness, reddish silvery scaly plaques, Itching- burning – bleeding after scratching
2. Numbness
MODALITIES: 1. Worse in summer, hot / warm water
Better by antifungal ointments – itching decrease
2. Better by lying down and taking a water
MENTAL SYMPTOMS
1.Active and cheerful
2.Worries about her works
3.Desires travelling
PHYSICAL GENERALS –
Aversion- milk (feel like nausea)
Stool – constipation sometimes.
PAST HISTORY
Recurrent episodes of psoriasis
Recurrent tonsilitis
FAMILY HISTORY
FATHER – Hypertension
GRAND MOTHER – H/O of warts
TOTALITY OF SYMPTOMS:
- Active and Cheerful
- Eruption on 2nd finger – dry, rough, reddish silvery plaques
- Numbness on forehead
- Itching
- Burning
- Scratching after bleeding
- Aversion to milk
- worse in summer, hot /warm water
- better by antifungal ointment.
After the use of synthesis repertory and boericke materia medica prescribed, the ANAGALLIS ARVENSIS based on clinical and physical general symptoms.
PRESCRIPTION AND POTENCY SELECTION:
Anagallis Arvensis 200C 5 pills twice for 3 days with sac lac 5 pills for twice daily for 2 weeks & follow ups scheduled every 15 days
FOLLOW UP AND PROGRESS
FIRST FOLLOW UP (AFTER 15 DAYS)
▪ Itching slightly decreased
▪ Burning pain as it is after scratching
▪ Redness decreased, roughness reduced but eruption as it is
▪ Numbness reduced
▪ Prescription:
Anagallis Arvensis 200C 5 pills stat dose
Sac lac 5 pills for twice daily for 2 weeks
SECOND FOLLOW UP (AFTER 1 MONTH)
▪ Noticeable improvement in eruption reduced
▪ Itching reduced
▪ Burning and bleeding reduce after scratching
▪ Slightly appear of slivery plaques, no redness
▪ Prescription:
Anagallis Arvensis 200C 5 pills stat dose
Sac lac 5 pills twice daily for 1 month
THIRD FOLLOW UP (AFTER 2 MONTH)
▪ No itching, and burning
▪ No numbness in forehead
▪ Minimal visible of eruptions
▪ Prescription:
Anagallis Arvensis 200C 5 pills stat dose with Sac lac 5 pills twice daily for 15 days
INTRODUCTION TO THE REMEDY
Anagallis Arvensis, derived from scarlet pimpernel, is a lesser known homoeopathic remedy with a strong affinity for skin conditions. It is particularly beneficial for:
▪ Great itching and tingling everywhere
▪ Has bran like tetters in rings
▪ It favours expulsion of splinters
▪ It produces great exhilaration and activity of mind: thinks of everything
▪ Vesicles in groups
Conclusion
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition with significant physical and psychosocial impact. Homoeopathy provides a holistic, safe, and individualized approach by addressing root causes, miasmatic blocks, and patient susceptibility.
This case report points out the successful management of chronic palmar psoriasis 23 years old female patient with Anagallis Arvensis. A thorough case taking procedure, in addition to synthesis repertory and boericke materia medica, enabled a personalized prescription that considerably enhanced the quality of life of the patient.
REFERENCE
1.Davidson’s principles and practice of medicine .23rd edition. edinburgh: Elsevier 2018
2.Pocket manual of homoeopathic materia medica with Indian medicine & repertory by boericke. 9th edition
3.A Dictonary of practical materia medica by J. H. CLARKE.
4.Synthesis repertory software
5.Indian journal of medical research article: Research on psoriasis in India: where do we stand?
